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Spring Training 2014: How Tommy John is shaping this season, MLB buzz and headlines

Patrick Corbin

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Patrick Corbin pitches to a Kansas City Royals batter during the third inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Here's a look at the biggest storylines from around Major League Baseball with Opening Day less than two weeks away:

Pitching elbows don't last like they used to

Pitchers tearing ligaments in their throwing arms is nothing new in baseball. Tommy John surgery, a procedure that repairs the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow, has saved countless careers since the first surgery was performed in 1974. However, a drastic increase in the number of pitchers who require the surgery in recent years has pitchers, coaches and doctors constantly looking for new ways to prevent injury.

But despite all of the pitch counts, extra days of rest and strict inning caps, ligaments continue to tear at an alarming rate. With spring training still in full swing, a handful of potential All-Stars have already been shut down for the season.

Oakland Athletics' Jarrod Parker throws before the first inning of an exhibition spring training baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, March 5, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Athletics starter Jarrod Parker, Diamondbacks Opening Day starter Patrick Corbin, Royals setup man Luke Hochevar and Braves pitcher Kris Medlen all saw their seasons come to an end in the span of just a few days this spring. Braves pitcher Brandon Beachy will likely need Tommy John surgery as well, but is seeking a second opinion.

Medlen and Parker are joining the small but rapidly growing list of players who had Tommy John surgery more than once. The list of pitchers who found success at the major league level after multiple surgeries is a much smaller group. Recent additions to the list are relievers Joakim Soria and Brian Wilson, who both returned from their second operation last season and showed late-season promise.

For Parker's and Medlen's returns to be considered a success, however, they'd have to come back as starters, and the history of starting pitchers returning from a second Tommy John surgery is far shorter. In fact, second on the list of most starts after a second Tommy John surgery is Hong-Chih Kuo, who made just 14 and had his greatest success as a left-handed reliever for the Dodgers.

With each new player that requires a season-ending arm operation, there is another opportunity for a player to show that it's possible to return from Tommy John surgery just as good or better than before. Diamondbacks pitcher Daniel Hudson could return in the second half of this season and Mets ace Matt Harvey is hoping to return to the big leagues in August.

As for why the recent explosion of arm injuries is happening and seems to be resistant to the current methods of prevention, there are a handful of theories. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who has operated on a number of high-profile MLB players, pinpoints the source of the problem as the teenage years, when pitchers typically throw much more over the course of a year. Egged on by radar guns, scholarships and signing bonuses, young arms are subject to much more abuse than a generation ago.

"You see guys going out there nearly maximal with every pitch, knowing there's a whole breed of middle relievers and short relievers and closers," ElAttrache said. "Most teams know they're using three to four pitchers in a game. The art of cruising on your arm, you don't see that anymore."

Bad breakups lead to fresh starts

When relations, negotiations and trust breaks down between a player and management, oftentimes the player will soon be suiting up for another club. Such is the case for Yankees outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, the newest addition to the list of high-profile Red Sox defectors who next took the field in pinstripes.

Ellsbury, a career .297 batter in seven seasons with the Red Sox, felt he was worth more than the $120 million over six years he was offered to stay in Boston. Before too long, Ellsbury had signed a $153 million, seven-year deal with the Yankees.

"One thing that kind of jumps out is the pace in which they got Jacoby," Farrell said.

"As quick as they moved to sign him, that was the one thing that was -- that offer, obviously, had to be so much greater than anything else he was fielding. To make that decision that quick in the offseason, obviously they were very aggressive going towards him."

Boston Red Sox's Mike McCoy (48) is forced out at second as Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins throws to first for a double play in the seventh inning of an exhibition spring baseball game in Fort Myers, Fla., Saturday, March 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Another player who might be in for a change of scenery is Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins. The multiple Gold Glove winner and 2007 NL MVP has seen his relationship with the team he's spent his entire 14-year career with sour of late -- particularly this spring.

When Rollins was supplanted by Freddy Galvis as the starter at shortstop for a Grapefruit League game last week, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg made his point clear without saying much at all: (via CSNPhilly.com)

"Freddy's a guy that will get playing time at various positions," Sandberg said. "He's a guy that I like in the lineup. I felt good about what he brings to the table. The biggest thing I like is his energy and his positive influence, his positive influence on everyone around him."

Sandberg was asked what he would say about Rollins in that regard.

"No comment," the manager said.

So will the Phillies try to move on without one of the faces of their franchise? It appears they would like to try, but Rollins' no-trade clause could put an end to any possible dealings. If Rollins is in fact in Philadelphia for good, there's grumblings that the organization won't be happy unless he adapts a leadership role he has so far avoided: (via ESPN.com)

... Sources indicate that some in influential positions in the organization want Rollins to be a leader by investing himself more thoroughly in daily work and setting a strong example for others. If Rollins isn't going to do that, the sentiment of some is that the team would be better off moving him as soon as possible.

A player who has a history of experiencing a different type of bad break is Grady Sizemore, who showed the tools and the numbers to be one of the best in the game before a rash of injuries brought his career to a screeching halt in Cleveland.

Signed by the Red Sox as the supposed successor to Ellsbury in centerfield, Sizemore has looking more like the player he was way back in 2008 so far this spring. Batting .381 and making the same variety of defensive plays that put him on the map early in his career, Sizemore might end up being a steal for the Red Sox at a salary of $750,000 plus incentives that can take him past $6 million. (via CBSSports.com)

• If the Red Sox are to repeat as World Series champions in 2014, they'll likely need a little luck. Having already failed twice to repeat as champions in the last 10 seasons, the locked and loaded Red Sox will take their third stab at becoming the first back-to-back champs in 13 years. (via Sports Illustrated)

• Are the Rangers stuck in the midst of a slow tailspin after falling twice in the World Series? Technically, yes. And it might cost manager Ron Washington his job. If the Rangers don't start taking steps in the right direction this season, particularly in September and October, Texas might soon be looking for a new skipper. (via Sports Illustrated)

• The Mets received good news on pitcher Jon Niese, who rejoined the team Tuesday. Niese's MRI revealed no structural damage in his throwing elbow, meaning the supposed Opening Day starter will likely pitch early in the season, if not on Opening Day. (via NJ.com)

Odd Balls

• A game between the Yankees and Red Sox was delayed Tuesday when a swarm of bees gathered in the left-field corner. The bees were scared off and the game resumed after a seven-minute delay with marginal assistance from Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira, who did his best to assist the grounds crew: (via NJ.com)

• There's a new king of corn dogs, and it's the Arizona Diamondbacks. This season, the Diamondbacks will offer an 18-inch, $25 corn dog that comes stuffed with cheese, jalapenos and bacon. (via ESPN.com)